Page 41 of Game Changer

When I open the door, a cop is standing there. He takes his hat off and holds it in front of himself. “Good evening, Mr. Boone. I’m Officer Clark. I was told you’d called and asked for Ms. Bellemont’s belongings from the scene of the accident.”

“Yet I don’t see a bag with her belongings, and I’ve yet to be given an accident report,” I say, trying not to be a dick, but also pissed I don’t have information.

“Ms. Bellemont’s parents were given the information and her belongings.”

“Come again?” I ask.

“They’re her parents, her next of kin, they?—”

“Her next of kin is our daughter, who said prayers for her mother tonight on speaker with me while I was at the hospital sitting bedside.”

“I understand you’re upset. It’s a trying time. I?—”

“Derek, you’re a town cop. Lindsey’s accident was out of your jurisdiction, so why are you even involved?” Sydney says as she walks around and stands in front of me.

The officer looks down at her, eyes narrowed. “Not that it’s any of your business?—”

“Instead of me teaching you how to speak to a woman,” I cut the douchebag off, “and how not to, how about you just answer the question, as it ismybusiness? And if Miss Sparks asks any other questions, I can assure you she’s speaking for me and my daughter.”

“When the accident was phoned in, I was closest. I was the first on the scene.”

“He asked for a report. He asked for her belongings,” Sydney snaps at him.

And it hits me. “Syd, is this cop your ex?”

She looks up at me and rolls her eyes.

“Understood. I appreciate you taking up arms for me. You’ll always get the same, Cupcake.” I pull her into my side. “As much as I want answers, I know damn well I’m not getting them from you. I know exactly why you stopped here. Take a good hard look at what you lost, and then turn and walk away.”

“This is nothing to me. Get the answers you and Lily need,” Syd says, sinking into my side in a way that makes me want to lift Cop Ken up by the neck and punt him down the driveway.

“I’ll have my lawyer contact the state and town boys. I’m not playing with the po-po-ratzzi.”

I shut the door in his face.

“Beau, get answers.”

“I stand there and look at that asshole, knowing he’s only here to get a glimpse of you, and I’m likely to rip his head off and shit down his throat.”

“Everything he said seems off,” she says, walking back to the kitchen, and I follow and watch that fine, fine ass sway back and forth as she does.

“This whole thing seems off,” I say as I walk over and grab the letter.

“I think her telling you she wants you to find love in a way she can’t give you is?—”

“What did he do?” I cut her off.

“He cheated.”

“He cheated himself by doing that, dumb fuck.” I grab a turkey roll and take a bite. “Does he make it a habit to follow you around?”

“The first six months after I called the wedding off, he made it a point to pull me over every time I went to work. Eventually, I quit to avoid it.”

“That’s harassment,” I growl.

“It’s over now.”

“Tell me you sued him and the department.”

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